Ahmedabad Customs Seize 1.9 Kg Hydroponic Marijuana Worth ₹1.9 Crore, Couple Arrested

Ahmedabad Customs officials seized 1.928 kg of hydroponic marijuana allegedly smuggled from Bangkok and arrested a husband-wife duo at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on September 2. Senior Customs officials said the couple was allegedly acting at the behest of a Surat-origin man currently settled in Bangkok.

Couple Allegedly Recruited For Smuggling Operation

According to senior Customs officials, the couple, who belong to Vadodara, had allegedly travelled to Bangkok at the request of the Surat-origin man. He allegedly arranged their travel tickets and other expenses.

The husband is an auto-rickshaw driver, officials said.

A day before the couple left for Bangkok, the Surat-origin man allegedly contacted them, following which one of his associates visited their residence. The associate allegedly took a trolley bag from the couple and returned the next day with a customised trolley, which they then used for their journey.

The couple was also allegedly given $300 to deliver the trolley bag to another associate of the Surat-origin man in Ahmedabad after returning from Bangkok, Customs officials said.

Couple Intercepted At Ahmedabad Airport

The two passengers arrived in Ahmedabad from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG-343 on September 2.

According to Customs officials, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) intercepted them following passenger profiling and X-ray scanning of their baggage.

During a detailed examination, officers allegedly detected specially created concealed layers inside the passengers’ trolley bags.

1.928 Kg Marijuana Found In Concealed Compartments

On opening the hidden cavities, Customs officers allegedly found green-coloured substances packed in vacuum-sealed packets.

Five packets were recovered from each of the two trolley bags, taking the total to 10 packets. Preliminary testing of the substance returned positive for ganja, officials said.

The recovered substance weighed 1,928 grams and has an estimated market value of ₹1.9 crore.

Couple Arrested, Investigation Underway

The hydroponic marijuana was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Both passengers were arrested in connection with the alleged smuggling attempt. Customs officials are now investigating the role of the Surat-origin man and his associates, including the person who allegedly arranged the customised trolley and the associate who was supposed to receive it in Ahmedabad.

Further investigation is underway to trace the source of the contraband and identify others allegedly involved in the smuggling network.